Sucker-rod elevator



July 23, 1929. E. E. sTEvENsoN 1,721,533

SUCKER ROD ELEVATOR Filed Feb. 8, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l fly j .17 ya' /o l Lf/Zl Z4 a *2s I I fa. y 2 /T/ 26 Inf/@reform bwa/ .Skye/25022 July 23, 1929. E. E. sTEvENsoN SUCKER' ROD ELEVATOR -2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 8, 1926 Patented July 23, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELDTATAIRDv E. STEVENSON, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE AS- SIGNMENTS, TO EMSCO DEER-IGK & EQUIPMENT COMPANY, OF LOS ANGELES, CALI- FORNIA, A .CORPORATION f OF CALIFORNIA.

SUCKER-ROD ELEVATOR.

Application filed February This invention relates to devices for suspending, raising and lowering sucker rods used in connection with the operation of deep well pumps.

It is the general object of the invention to provide an elevator which is highly efficient in operation, that is, one which may be applied to and removed from the rods with minimum effort and loss of time and yet insure that the rods be positively held against release except by willful effort on the part of the operator.

The elevator is made up of very fewY moving parts and consequently nay be manufactured at comparatively little cost, and such parts as make it up are of very sturdy construct-ion to enable the device to stand up well under the severe service conditions to which elevators of this type are exposed. The extreme simplicity of the device and its operation adds apprcciably to its value as a tool used by the comparatively unskilled worker' in the field, and its sureness of hold is an exceedingly valuable feature, since an elevators failure to hold may often result in tremendous loss to the well operator due to the labor and expense of fishing for the lost string as well as the economic losses arising from the non-productiveness of the well during the time consumed in fishing.

The elevator may be applied to the rod merely by thrusting it laterally thereonto, the jaws being spring-pressed into a position to secure the rod in the elevator way as soon as said rod is fully taken thereby. Due to the peculiar method of mounting the jaws, they cannot thereafter be forced open except by willful manipulation by the operator. That is, if such lateral pressure be exerted against the elevator or rod as would tend to move the rod out of the way, the jaws resist and linally prevent such movement. However, when the operator is ready to release the elevator, he need only grasp the two-part operating handle, `squeeze the two parts together. thereby moving the jaws to release position, and b v simultaneously drawing the elevator towards him with the squeezing hand. the elevator is freed from the rod. The operator can perform these two operations without conscious thought that he is doing more than merely pulling the elevator free, for it is natural to take a tight, squeezing grip on any tool of this character before starting 8, 1926. Serial No. 86,690.

to draw it from the work. If a pull be exerted on only one part of the handle, the aws will not move to release position, thus eliminating the chance of some extraneous object, such as a cable or swinging tool, from contacting with either part of the handle with suflicient force to cause jaw opening movement. But it is to be noted particularly that I do not employ a separate latching member for holding the aws against such accidental release, but may rely entirely upon the disposition and nature of the jaws. The advantages of this fea-ture from the standpoints of economical manufacture, simplicity, ease and quickness of operation, and cost of upkeep, are self-evi dent.

The above features, as well as others, will be explained in the following detailed description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of an elevator embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1, showing the bail eyes in section, and showing a rod secured within the elevator;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3 3 of Fig. 1 eX- cept that the aws are shown in full plan;

Fig. 4l is a perspective view of one of the jaws;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the position of the parts when the elevator is being applied to or Withdrawn from a rod;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the rod moved into contact with the inner faces of the jaw noses;

Fig. 7 is a section on line 7 7 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 8 shows a variational form wherein only a single jaw is used.

In the drawings, numeral 10 indicates the body portion or member of the elevator, thisv member being cored out centrally to provide a chamber l1 for the reception of the jaw mechanism. Extending from one sidev of member l0 are. the arms 12 which ,support a relatively stationary hand grip or cross bar 13 forming one of the parts of the two-part jaw operating handle. Chamber l1 opens at one side 14 towards grip 13, while, at the front of the body member, plate portions l5 and 16, which define the top and bottom of chamber ll, respectively, are cut to form vertically alined, and horizontally elongated rod receiving ways 17, the mouths of which preferably flare as at 18, for obvious reasons, and the rear walls of which are indicated at 19 (Fig. 5). Hereafter, the ways in the two plates will, together', be referred to as comprising t-he rod receiving way of the elevator. The plates and 1G are preferably slightly countersunk at 17 to receive the tapered shoulder not shown) usually provided at the joints of sucker rods.

Trunnions 2O extend from opposite sides of member 10, their common axis intersecting e vater.

the vertical axial plane of way 17 approximately atthe point where the axis of rod R will lie when the rod is secured in the ele- Trunnions 20 have annular grooves 21 adapted to receive the eyes 22 of bail 23, body member 10 thus being mounted for oscillatory movement with respect to the bail, the reason for providing this type of mounting being well understood'by those skilled in the art. The ends 20 are, in effect, flanged end portions of the trunnions, and being of larger diameter than the inside diameter of the bail eyes, hold said eyes from separative displacement from the elevator body.

Jaws 2a are made up of reversely curved body portions 25 which cross or overlap one another approximately at their centers, and way closing noses 26 having inclined, outer ycam faces 27 and inner, rod engaging faces 28. InV order that the noses of the two jaws may be in horizontal opposition, they are built up from the body portions of their respective jaws, as at 2SC, the jaws being so relatively arranged that portion 28C on the lower jaw extends upwardly and portion 28u on the upper jaw extends downwardly.

The jaws lie within chamber 11 and areV pivotally connected at 29 to member 10 so they can be pivotally moved to project across way 17 to secure rod bltherein (Figs. 2, 3 and 6) and pivotally moved to a release posit-ion entirely within chamber 11, (Fig. 5) thus clearing way 17 for the passage in or out of rod R. The jaws may thus be considered as 4being oscillatory members adapted to be oscillated to and from way-closing or rodsecuring` position. lhile the jaws may be pivotally connected to the body member in any suitable way, I prefer to provide the type of connection illustrated, which may be described as a gear tooth connection, there being a pin 30 pivotally connecting the jaws intermediate their ends to hold arcuate or tooth ends 31 of jaws 24 loosely in the sockets 32 which are formed in body 10 between spaced lugs or internal teeth 33. This loose type of pivotal 'connection between jaws and body is advantageous in that it requires no machining, separable parts, nor tools for assembly, and give suliicient lateral play to the jawsto allow the lost motion requisite to the pivotal movement thereof, though such lost motion may occur between t-hc jaws and pivot pin, if such an arrangement is preferred.

Pin 30 is supported by the fork arms 3a at the end of leg or shank 35 of relatively movable hand grip 36 which is of T-.shape and is the second part ofthe two-part jaw operatingI handle. Cross bar 37 of grip 36 is preferably of channel cross-section and approximately parallels bar 13. Arms 12 and side flanges 33 on bar 13 hold grip 37 from becoming inoperatively dif-iplaced.

Shank 35 has central bore 39 adapted to take a slidable plunger 40. llore Ll-1 is provided in bar 13, this bore being in line with bore 39 so t-he plunger, which has a head Ll2, may be thrustinto said bore 39, a retention plug L13 being threaded into bore 41 after plunger' l0 is thrust to position. An expansive springl L14 encircles plunger a() between head L1-2 and the shoulder 15 formed in bar 37 by counter-sinking it at 1G, and the spring tends yieldingly to spread bar 37 apart from bar 13. Thus, the spring` acts through shank arms 34 and pin 39, against jaws 2a to swing them pivotally downwardly in a manner to project noses 26 across way 17 and. preferably into Contact with each other, or in other words, to hold the jaws yieldingly in rod-securing or way-closing position.

To explain the peculiar nature and mount ing` of the aws, itwill be well to consider the rod it as being fully inserted in the elevator and the jaws as being closed. For the time being I will refer to Fig. 6. Noses 26 project across way 17 at such ay point that rod R. of less than a. given prohibitive diameter. is capable of limited movement laterally with respect to the body member in the direction of the long` dimension of way 17 The jaws and noses are so shaped that when the rod or body is moved laterally to bring the rod and nose faces 28 into engagement, there will be poinls of engagement which lie at that side of the eon'nnon axial plane A of a given pivot point 29 and rod R wiiirh is remote from the bodjv' portion of the corresponding jaw, and the noses are so shaped and proportioned that tl distance B between the given pivot point and peintof nose engagement with the rod is less than the distance between said pivot point and the far side C of the rod, as measured on said common axial plane A. Consequently. with the rodin place. when body member 1t) is thrust in the di ection of arrow l). or a thrust is exerted against the inclined faces 27 of noses 2G in the direction of arrow D, or a mere pull is exerted on grip 3G t that is. when bars 13 and 37 are not squeezed together) as may occur when an extraneous. bod.; accidentally thrust again'st the aws or bony meniber or is hooked over bar 37, jaws 21 cannot be moved pivotally by the exertion of such simple forces into release position, for the rod lies in the path which the noses have to follow during such pivotal movement of the lll() lll) jaws. It is not necessary to this condition that the noses of the two jaws extend inwardly far enough to engage one another or even to projectbeyond the common vertical axial plane of pin 30 and i ay 1T, nor is it neces y that faces 28 be curbed or arcuate. Howto er, in order to insure that after the noses have become worn through use, the aws may not be accidentally moved to release.position in the manners specilied above, l preier to ei;- tcnd noses 28 so, in securing position, they project beyond said axial plane of the pin and way. This condition may be brought about by horizontally overlapping the tij )8" (Fig. 1) of the jaws when they are in securing` pes"- tion, the opposed end faces 28D of the noses being complementarily inclined, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, to provide the overlap.

However. if body 1l) be allowed lo move in the direction of arrow lil so rod lt lies nearer to or against wall 19 of way 17, as soon as the distance between the pivot point and the point on the nose which formerly engaged ti becomes equal to or greater than the d st between the pivot point and the far side rod in its new position, jaws 2l are capable e moving pivotall).v to rel rase posit-ion, silice the rod is then out of the path which said point on the nose must travel during such pivotal movement of the jaws.

Thus., when bars 13 and 37 are squee/.ed together in the opcrators hand he grasps them to withdraw the elevator'. the body niember and rod move relatively laterally so the rod nearer to way wall 19 (Fig. 3) and pivotal movement of the jaws to release position is therefore allowed. lontinned squeezing together of the grips .draws pivot pin 30 towards bar 13. spring' all yieldingto allow this movement. Due to the crossed nature ot the jaws, that since pin 3l) is disposed intermediate the pivot point and nose 2li of each jaw which point and nose are arranged at opposite sides of way 1T with the two pivot point-s located at opposite sides of the way, this movement of pin 30 swings 'the jaws pi votally about points `9 into position er until noses 26 are clear ot way 1T. A simulA taneous or subsequentl pull on the operating handle moves the body member past the rod (Fig. 5) until the rod is entirely clear of 'he way. The operator naturally squeezes the grips together as he prepares to withdraw the elevator, so it requires no conscious e'ltort on his part to move the device elements, rst, to such position that the ja .vs may "win to release position, and second, to move the jaws to release position.

lVhen the ope 'ating handle is subsequently released, spring 141 acts automatically to return the jaws to closed position, as will be readily understood, the elevator then being in condition for re-engagement with a rod.

The elevator may be applied to the rod after lirst squeezing the hand grips together to move the jaws clear of way 17 (Fig. 5) or by merely thrusting the elevator against the rod. In the latter event, the rod pressure acts against nose faces 27 to swing the jawsapart, thereby admitting the rod to the way. lVhen the rod is close to or against way wall 19, spring 44 acts automatically to project the jaws into securing position and they are subsequently held in this position againstaecidental release without the necessity of throwing` in a latch or locking mechanism of any kind.

In Fig. 8, 1 have shown a variational form of the invention where single jaw 24: substituted for the pair of jaws shown in the other figures. T he jaw 2&1 may be fashioned and mounted in exactly the same manner as either of the jaws 24, and the operation of the device throughout will be exactly the same as that described in connection with the two-j aw elevator. Parts of Fig. 8 which correspond to parts in the other figures are given corresponding primed reference numerals.

It will be understood the drawings and description are to be considered merely as illustrativel of andV not restrictive on the broader claims appended hereto, for various changes in design, structure and ar'angcnient may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of said claims.

I claim:

1. In a sucker rod elevator, the combination of a body having` a rod receivingv way, a shiftable jaw on the body member and adapted to secure a rod within said way, a relatively stationary hand `grip on the body member, and a relatively movable hand `rip pivotally connected to the jaw, said jaw being adapted to be moved to release position by the squeezing together of said hand grips.

2. In a. sucker rod elevator, the combination of a body having a rod receiving wa y, a shiftable jaw on the body member and adapted to secure rod within said way, a relatively stationary hand lgrip on the body member, and a relatively movable hand grip, said movable hand grip being of T-shape, the bar thereof bein;l disposed opposite thel stationary hand grip and the leg thereof being pivotally connected to the jaw, said jaw being adapted to be moved to release position by the squeezing together of said hand grips.

3. In a sucker rod eleva-tor, the combina tion of a body having a rod receiving' way, a jaw on the body member and adapted to secure a rod within said way, said aw hav ing a way closing nose at one end and af pivotal connection with the body near the other end, a relatively stationary hand grip on the body member, and a relatively movable hand grip operatively connected to the jaw intermediate said ends for movement therewith, said jaw being adapted to be llll) l ll) moved to release position about its pivotal connection with the body by the squeezing together of said hand grips.

il. In a sucker rod elevator, the combina.- tion of a body having a rod receiving way, a jaw on the body member and adapted to secure a rod within said way, said aw having a way closing nose at one end and a pivotal connection with the body near the other end, said nose being disposed at one side of said way, and said pivotal connection being located at the other side of the way, a relatively stationary hand grip on the body member, and a. relatively movable hand grip operatively connected to the jaw intermediy ate its ends, said jaw being adapted to be moved to release position about its pivotal connection with the body by the squeezing together of said hand grips.

5. In a sucker rod elevator, the combination of a body having a rod receiving way, a pair ot pivot-ally connected shittable jaws on the body member and adapted to secure a rod within said way` a relatively stationary hand grip on the body member, and a relatively movable hand grip operatively connected to the jaws for movement therewith, said aws being` adapted to be moved to release position by the squeezing together ot said hand grips.

6. In a sucker rod elevator, the combination ot a body having a rod receiving way, a pair of pivotally connected shittable jaws on the body member and adapted to secure a rod within said way, a relatively stationary hand grip on the body member, and a relatively movable hand grip pivotally connected to the jaws at their point ot pivotal connection, said jaws being adapted to be moved to release position by the squeezing together of said hand grips.

7. In a sucker rod elevator, the combination of a body having` a rod receiving` way,

a pair oit jaws on the body member and ad apt ed to secure a rod within said way, said jaws having way closing noses at one end and piv otal connections with the body near the other end, the nose oi. a given jaw being disposed at one side o't said way, the pivotal connection ot that jaw being located at the other side ot the way, said noses being in opposed relation at the way, a relatively stationary hand grip on the body member, and a relatively movable hand grip operatively connected to the aws intermediate their ends, said jaws vbeing` adapted to be moved to release position about their pivotal connections with the body by the squeezing together of said hand grips.

8. In a suc-ker rod elevator, the combination ot a body having a rod receiving way, a pair ot awson the body member and adapted to secure a rod within said way, said jaws having way closing noses at one end and pivetal connections with the body near the other end, the nose of a given jaw being disposedV at one side of said way, the pivotal connection of that jaw being located at the other side of the way, said noses being in opposed relation at the way and having portions adapted to overlap when they are in securing position, a relatively stationary hand grip on the body member, and a relatively mov able hand grip operatively connected to the jaws intermediate their ends, said jaws being adapted to be moved to release position about their pivotal connections with the body by the squeezing together of said hand grips.

9. In a suc Ier rod elevator, the combination et a body having a rod receiving way, a pair ot pivotally connected aws on the body member and adapted to secure a rod within said way, said jaws having way closing noses at one end and pivotal connections with the body near the other end, the nose of a given jaw being disposed at one side ot said way the pivotal connection ot' that jaw being located at the other side ot the way, said noses being in opposed relation at the way and having portions adapted Vto overlap when they are in securing position, a relatively stationary hand gripon the body member, and a relatively movable hand grip opera ti 'ely connected to the jaws at their pivotal connection, said jaws being adapted to be moved to release position about their pivotal connections with the body by the squeezing together ot said hand grips.

l0. In a sucker rod elevator, the combination ot a body having a rod receiving way, a jaw on the body member and adapted to secure a rod oit less than given diameter within said way. said aw having a way closing nose at one end and pivotal connect-ion with the body near the other end, said jaw being disposed at one side of the way and adapted, when, in securing position, to project across the way at a point to allow limited relative lateral mov'en'ient between the body member and secured rod, and said pivotal connection being disposed at the other side ot the way, and manually operated means applied to the jaw intermediate the nose and point oi' pivotal. connection and adapted to be actuated to shift the aw pivotally out ot securing position.

ll. In a sucker rod elevator, the combina- Y tion of a body having a rod receiving way, a jaw on the body member and adapted to secure a rod of less than given diameter within said way, said jaw having` a way closing nose at one end and pivotal connection with the body near the other ond, said jaw being disposed at one side oit the way and adapted, when, in securing position, to project across the way at a point to allow limited relative lateral movement between the body member and secured rod, and said pivotal connection being disposed at the other side ot the way, yieldable means adapted to hold the jaw in llll) lll) securing' position, and manually operated means applied to the jaw intermediate the nose and point of pivotal connection and adapted to be actuated to shift the jaw pivotally out of securing position.

1Q. ln a sucker rod elevator, the combination ot' a body member having a rod receiving way, a jaw on the body member and adapted to secure a rod ol than given diameter within said way, said jaw including a body portion having a pivotal connection at one end with the body member, a way-closingnose projecting from the other end of the body portion, said nose being adapted, when the jaw is in securing position, to project across the way at a point to allow limite l relative lateral movement between the body member and secured rod, said nose being adapted to be brought into engagement with the rod at that side of the common axial plane of the rod and said point of pivotal connection which is remote from the body portion of the jaw, the aw being so shaped that when theV nose is thus engaging with the rod, the distance between the point of engagement and point of said pivotal connection is less than the distance between said point of pivotal connection and the far side ot' the rod as measured on said common axial plane; and the dist-ance between said pivot point and the point of the nose which engaged the rod being not less than the second mentioned distance when the rod is moved laterally through said way for a predetermined distance from said nose.

13. In a sucker rod elevator, the combination of a body having a rod receiving way, and an oscillatory jaw on the body member and adapted to be oscillated to and from wayclosing position, said jaw having a way-closing portion near one end and a pivotal con- -nection with the body near the other end,

said closing portion being disposed at one side of the-way, and said pivotal connection being located at the other side of the way.

14. In a sucker rod elevator, the combination of a body having a rod receiving way, an oscillatory jaw on the body member and adapted to be oscillated to and from wayclosing position, said aw having a way-closing portion near one end and a pivotal connection with the body near the other end, said closing portion being disposed at one side of the way, and said pivotal connection being located at the other side of the way, and yieldable means adapted to hold the jaw in wayclosing position.

15. In a sucker rod elevator, the combina tion of a body having a. rod receiving way, an oscillatory jaw on the body member and adapted to be oscillated to and from way-closing position, said jaw having a way-closing portion near one end and a pivotal connection with the body near the other end, said closing portion being` disposed at one side ot the way, and said pivotal connection being located at the other side ot' the way, and yieldable means acting on the jaw intermediate the closing portion and the point of pivotal connection and adapted to hold the jaw in way-closing position.

16. In a sucker rod elevator, the combination of a body having a rod receiving way, an oscillatory jaw on the body member and adapted to be oscillated to and from wayclosing position, said jaw having a way-closing portion near one end and a pivotal connection with the body near the other end, said closing portion being disposed at one side of the way, and said pivotal connection being located at the other side ofthe way, and means for moving the jaw about its pivotal connection.

17. In a sucker rod elevator, the combination of a body member having a rod-receiving way, a pair otl jaws on the body member and each having a way-closing portion, said jaws being movable with respect to the body member in a manner to project said portions into the way from opposite sides thereof, said portions overlapping one another when in projected positions.

18. In a sucker rod elevator, the combination of a body member having a rod receiving way, a pair oi jaws on the body member and adapted to secure a rod within said way, each jaw having a way-closing portion near one end and a pivotal connection with the body member near the other end, said jaws crossing one another at points intermediate their ends.

19. In a sucker rod elevator, the combination of a body member having a rod receiv-T ing way, a jaw, a pivotal connection between the body member and jaw whereby the jaw is movable to and from way-closing position; said connection being characterized as geartooth engagement between the body member and jaw, and means for maintaining such engagement.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 14th day of January 1926.

EDI/VARI) E. STEVENSON. 

